The Air Force’s B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Is Ahead of Schedule
Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear ordnance, the B-21 Raider will serve as the backbone of the Air Force for years to come.
Now that it is public knowledge that Boeing has been selected to develop the upcoming F-47 sixth-generation fighter program, all eyes are on what’s next for the big-name manufacturers that didn’t make the cut. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman may not be tasked with designing the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, but big things are in the works for both companies. In fact, the service’s sixth-generation stealth bomber program is being spearheaded by Northrop. When the B-21 “Raider” reaches operational capacity within the Air Force, the bomber will undoubtedly lead as the service’s air-based leg of America’s nuclear triad. Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear ordnance, the Raider will serve as the backbone of the Air Force for years to come. Beijing and Moscow are also working on their own respective next-gen bomber programs, making the Raider’s progress even more critical to U.S. deterrence efforts.
Last month, Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican representing Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, revealed on social media that the Raider may actually be ahead of schedule. According to Bacon’s post on X, the bomber program was “being built ahead of schedule and on budget.” Considering the bomber’s expected price tag of more than $200 billion, some had previously speculated that the Raider could be nixed due to potential budgetary constraints. In January, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall acknowledged the bomber’s hefty price tag, noting that accelerating B-21 production would make sense “IF it’s affordable.”
Northrop also confirmed that the sixth-generation program is steadily making progress. Tom Jones, the vice president for Northrop’s Aeronautics Systems, has stated that the B-21 is conducting multiple sorties per week at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It appears that regardless of price, the Raider will stay on the table since the futuristic bomber is intended to serve as a gradual replacement for the Air Force’s aging fleet of B-1 Lancers and B-2 Spirits over the next decade.
What we know about the B-21 Raider
While limited details surrounding the specs and capabilities of the Raider platform have been revealed, the bomber is expected to serve as the Air Force’s intelligence collection and battle manager down the line. The platform was first unveiled to the public back in 2022 at Northrop’s production facilities in Palmdale, California. According to analysis of the released images of the Raider, the new bomber is expected to sport a smaller wingspan than its predecessors, which will make it more challenging for enemy aircraft and radar to detect. Additionally, the Raider will feature modular systems, like the F-35 Lightning II, that will allow for more seamless updates as emerging technologies come about.
Although Northrop will not play a role in the Air Force’s upcoming NGAD program, the manufacturer will certainly add to its legacy with the eventual production of the B-21.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.